Two years ago on August 26, 2017, a big calamity fell on the people of Imo State.
That day, the ancestral market of Owerri people, the Ekeonunwa/ Ekeukwu Owerri Market was pulled down to the shock of Imo citizens.
However, that date is today sketched in the mind of majority of people not only because the biggest market in the State was mauled down by Bulldozers on the order of a Governor, but because the incident claimed the life of a young promising lad, Somtochukwu Ibeanusi.
The demolition of the market remained one of the darkest points of the immediate past regime in Imo State, led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
As August 26, 2019 is here, Imo people and the family of Somtochukwu have been thrown back into sorrow and mourning as they remember the calamity that took Imo State backwards many years.
Till date, it has remained a mystery whose bullet cut-down the promising youth, even though it is certain that the letal bullet flew out from one of the Armed Groups that committed the Mayhem of August 29, 2017.
The issue surrounding the demolition of Ekeukwu Market Owerri has refused to die like Somtochukwu, as the owners of the market, Owerre Nchise citizens, have vowed to not allow the matter fizzle away.
It is reported that before the former Governor Okorocha personally supervised the destruction of the market on a weekend when traders were not around, the matter was still in court, with an Order directing the then Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha or any of his Agents not to near the market, much more talk about its destruction.
A majority of Imo people were also happy with the court order, because the Ekeuwku market remained one of the biggest markets in the southeast region, and served as a source of Economic survival and employment for over two million people, including Traders and Buyers.
Therefore, demolishing the market was seen not just as the height of Economic suicide for Imolites, but was never comptemplated to be possible by any right thinking Government.
But Imo people were mistaking, as the then Governor, against Court Order, social justice and economic survival of nearly 60% of the State’s population, led security operatives, including armed miscreants, to maul down the market, and later emerged triumphant, raising his hands up, surrounded by senior security personnel, as if he had conquered a territory for Imo State and its people.
Till date, Imo Traders have scattered to eke out livings in various places in the State.
Some of the Traders may also have forgotten the demolition of their stores/ shops and goods as some of them have found their economic footings once more elsewhere.
But not so far the Ibeanusi family, as August 29 of every year will remain ever green to this family that lost their only son to Government brigandage and insensitivity.
Speaking to Trumpeta yesterday, Mr Ibeanusi and wife said that the manner Somtochukwu died made his death a reoccurring incident in their home every day.
“We will continue to miss Somtochukwu. A brilliant Boy who likes to render help to the family yet does not joke with his studies.
Today, that dream has gone into smoke” he said.
